Sheet feeding machine



March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ETAL 2,631,037

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS 61/4? 0. Z/l/ff DOA/ALB R. P647 J [JVZW [/V/fA/f/ 5/? BY ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ETAL 2,631,037

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ETAL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 INVENTORS /TE 10 fiP/Aff any/55%. @f/V/W M/f/F A l'TORNEY 5 March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ETAL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5, 194'? INVENTORS R. P/ATT fi M M. H mm m M nm A March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ETAL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ETAL 2,631,037

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS CLAIR D. LAKE DONALD R. P/ATT AM J 4. fig/05w: fiffi BY w ATTORNEY c. D. LAKE ET AL 2,631,037

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE March 10, 1953 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ET AL 2,631,037

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIGJO.

INVENTORS 6 ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ET AL 2,631,037

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS 601/1? 0. LAME DONALD R. I i/A77 March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ETAL 2,631,037

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 194'? 14 Sheets-Sheet ll FIGJZ.

ATTORN EY March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ET'AL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 INVENTORS LA/R 0. LAKE BYZ March 10, 1953 c. D. LAKE ETAL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Dec.

INVENTORS cM/R 0. LAKE DON/1D R. P/Arr JAMS! /2 MW Mid/{M If. BY J. U- mum/: ATTORNEY JAN. mvm

m& j

14 Sheets-Sheet 14 C. D. LAKE ETAL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE March 10, 1953 Filed Dec.

. INVENTORS CLAIR D. LAKE DU/VALD A? P/ATT JAMES A mg i M M A H- m W ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.-Y., a corporation of New York A plication December 5, 1947, Serial No; 789,790

14 Claims.

This inventionielates to sheet feeding machines and more particularly to the type which is adapted to advance the pack of sheets toa common sheet picking-on position, individually pickofi sheets at such position by -a pneumatic separator, and by successive cyclic operations of conveying means feed them to predetermined positionsfor operations thereon and then automatically stacking them so that they are in the same order in which they-are fed from the supply magazine.

A broadobjectof the invention is to dev-iseefficientmea'ns for advancing the pack, improved pneumatic separator means for picking ofi sheets from the supply magazine, provide conveying means for conveying them to a position which will facilitate the transcription-or reading of data written or printed on the sheets, then to "a further position whereby additional data may be printed on the sheets and then to -a stacking mechanism for placing them in an orderly manner in a storage hopper.

It is to be understood that the feeding to printing and reading positions just mentioned are merelyexamples of use and it is immaterial what operations'are made in connectionwith the sheets since-this will depend upon the particular apparatus in which the invention is incorporated.

The invention also comprehends a structural arrangement of a supply magazine which includes a back. plate and front plate between which the-stack of sheets are-stacked'on edge so as to be individually picked off. The structural arrangement also contemplates the provision of movably mounting the backplate so-that at a predetermined point in the operation of the machine the pressure on the rearmost sheets may be relievedto allow air to pass in between and separate them to facilitate the individual sheet pickoif. An associated feature also comprehends the provision of mounting the front plate in a movable carriage so that by a manual separation from the back plate the insertion of a stack of sheets therebetween may be facilitated. Further, during the operation of the machine the carriage-carrying the front plate is moved under spring pressure soas to place the stack 'of sheets in a compressed relationship.

The invention also comprises a vacuum cup means-or pneumatic separator which individually picks on the rearmost sheets and the inclusion of means to shift one of the plates of the magazine so as to disable the aforementioned spring-pressureon the stack. -'I-hus, removal of v2 enable the vacuum cup to seize and withdraw a single sheet with facility Withoutrequiring. ex-- traordinary suctional force.

Associated with the vacuum cup -means which picks oh the sheets individually is a conveying means comprising a rotatable endless belt which takes the sheets fed thereto by the vacuum cup and feeds them upwardly to the transcribing and printing position.

Another feature of the'invention is to providea sheet stacking mechanism which will grip 'the' sheets after the printing operation and stack th'em in a storage hopper. Thepresent sheet feeding apparatus is devised to take care of th'e'requirements of handling sheets or tickets-'ofldifi'ernt sizes, and the invention comprehends the provision of having the-'snpply magazine adjustable to accommodate the difierentsizes of tickets or sheets. The stacking mechanism hereinbefore mentioned is capable-ofhandling the sheets-oi different sizes without changing thetiming of the operation of the stacking "mechanism. as is required in the stacking mechanism shown. in the patent to C. D. Lake et al., No. 2,350,511, pate ented June 6, 1944.

In the machine of thelpat'e'ntgdue to the fact that the sheets were fed to the grippers. in a' dii'e'ction in which theLwidth of "the. sheet varied, a change in the, timing of operation-of the grippers of the sheet grippingmechanism was required to grip sheets of different widths. In the present machine the direction of feed of the sheets a direction of their lengths. Feeding-the sheets so that, irrespective of the 'slightvariationin length, the top edges are always 'at a fixed'regiatered position does not require any change in timing of the operation of the grippers accord;- ing to the varying widths of the sheets and the present arrangement is deemed to be a simplijfication over the patented arrangement. 1

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle 'of'tne invention'and the best mode, whichhas been contemplated, of applying that principle. l

Inthe drawings: f

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of'the right side of the machine as assembled, and shows the structural relationship between the ticket or 5( sheet magazine, pneumatic separating mechanism, the conveyenthe printing =device,'andth'e sheet or ticket stacker, as well as-the power drive.

Fig. 2 is a side elevationar view of" the-sheet or ticket supply magazine, 'on-'a larger scale than the spring pressure -soopens thestack 'so as to F151,

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the sheet or ticket supply magazine.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sheet or ticket supply magazine.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view showing the vacuum or pneumatic sheet separator mechanism for withdrawing tickets from the supply ma azine and elevating them to a conveyer.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a cam operated mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of another cam operated mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of part of the machine above the supply magazine and shows particularly the ticket conveyer, the ticket printing wheels, and the platen operating mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the printing mechanism and shows part of an associated drive.

Fig. 11 is a plan view showing principally the gear and cam driving mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the ticket or sheet stacking mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the sheet or ticket stacking mechanism and associated storage hopper.

I Fig. 14 is a view taken on the line I4-I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the main clutch and is taken on line I5-I5 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a timing diagram.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line I1I1 of Fig. 15.

Supply magazine The constructional details of the supply magazine is best shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 to which recourse should be had for understanding the following description:

The assembled magazine and other units of the machine are supported by a base plate 49 and attachedto said base plate are uprising main side frame plates 4|, 42. The side plate M has attached thereto a side frame plate 43 by means of screws 44 and spacing sleeves 4.5 over said screws space the frame plate 43 away from the frame plate 4|. In a similar manner side frame plate 42 carries a side frame plate 48. As best shown in Fig. 3 the side frame plates 43, 43 are outer frame plates, and side frame plates 4|, 42 are the inner side frame plates.

The front plate 41 of the magazine has two pairs of integral ears 48 (Fig. 3) and are attached to the side plates 49, 58 of a U-shaped member by attaching screws 5|, 52 which are screwed into related threaded spacing members 53. The side plates 49, 58 have integral front extensions 54 which carry a handle 55. To the cross plate 56 of the U-shaped member 48, 511, there is secured another U-shaped member, but in an upside-down relationship (see Fig. 3) and said member comprises side plates 51, 58. Each of said plates 51, 58 carries a pair of flanged rollers 59 (Fig. 2) which roll in a slot 60 formed in the associated side frame plate 4|, 42. Thus, it is evident that the front plate 41 of the magazine is carried by a carriage which is movable forwardly by the handle 55 to allow the insertion of a stack of papers 85 (see Fig. 5).

Between the side plates 51, 58 and mounted on a roller shaft 68 of the front set of rollers 59 is a rack-toothed member 61 (Figs. 4 and 5) which is guided by a roller 68 at its rear, said member having a lug 69 which can be engaged by a latching bail 10 when the carriage is in a most forward position. When released from the latch a spring 14 secured to member 51 urges the carriage rearwardly and thus the front frame plate 41 is spring-pressed against the stack of papers 65. The latching bail 1B is carried by side arms 1I pivoted on a spacing stud 12 carried by side frame plate 4!, 42, and one of said arms H has a hand operating lever 13 (Fig. 1) to manipulate the latch bail to latch the carriage when a stack of papers are to be inserted in the magazine.

The back plate 82! of the magazine has two pairs of integral ears 8|, 82 (Fig. 5). Ears 8I are pivoted by a rod 83 to side arms 84 of a bail member having a cross plate 85, which bail member is pivoted on a rod 86. Ears 82, in a similar manner, are supported by a rod 81 carried by a bail 88 secured to a rod 89.

Since the tickets to be fed from the magazine or supply hopper vary in width the side frame plates of the magazine are arranged to be adjusted to the desired separation to conform to the width of the tickets. In the present arrangement large and small tickets are accommodated by suitable adjustments. When the hopper is adjusted for small tickets there is a supplementary width adjustment. This adjustment is necessary to insure that the right-hand edges of the tickets abut the right-hand side wall of this hopper, within a relatively narrow tolerance, to insure proper registration of the right-hand edge of the small tickets with the printing wheels, to avoid the possibility of not printing one of the numbers on the small tickets from the printing wheels.

The hopper comprises two side walls I81 and III near the lower edges of which are welded flanges I28 and I2I to support the bottom edge of the pack of tickets. The mechanism by which the right-hand side wall is mounted on the frame member 43 is relatively simple. The frame member 43 has a flange 43 bent out at right angles, on which are mounted two posts I02, I03. The side wall I01 has welded to it an upright flange I05 with slots I04 to guide it upon the posts I02, I 63. The lower end of the flange IE5 has a toothed part I I5 meshing with a spur gear IIS on a shaft II1. This shaft is revolvably mounted in the frame member 43 and a similar frame member 4i and is provided with a crank I I8 by which it can be rocked through an arc of about A handle II9 threaded on a screw I22 fixed to the crank H8 is used to rock the crank and can also be used to clamp the crank in any position in an arcuate slot of a stationary plate I23.

The mounting of the left-hand side wall II I is somewhat more complex. This side wall I I I also has welded to it a flange 285 provided with a toothed portion 285 meshing with a spur gear 281 on the shaft H1. The flange 285 has slots 288 and 289 to guide it upon posts 298 and HI. These posts are not fixed to the flange M of the frame member 4 I, but are mounted on respective levers 292 and 293. The lever 292 is pivoted at 294 to the flange 4! and the lever 293 is pivoted at 295 to the flange M. The levers 292 and 293 are interconnected in scissors fashion by a pivot 296. The top end of the lever 293 is pulled to the left by a spring 291 anchored to a stationary member 295. A knurled headed screw 299 is threaded into a lug 264 of the stationary memher 298 and the end of the screw is aligned with the edge of the lever 293, so that it can be used ase-mat the left.

The mechanism is shown in the position it assumes for holding large tickets. The flanges I05 and 285 are in their lowest position and the side walls are held at their widest spacing by grooves I94, 288, and 289. In this position a strip (not shown) welded to the sidewall I I I abuts against the stationary frame member 4 I and prevents the side wall HI from moving to the left as far as would be permitted by the levers 292 and'2'93. This position is the widest spacing required for the side walls and'there is no reason to 'provide the auxiliary adjustment to be described presently for this wide spacing.

When the crank H8 is turned downward in the slot the flanges II35.and '285.are moved upward by the gears H6 and 231. The slots I04 throw theside wall I61 toward the'left. The slots 233 and 289 first permit the levers 293' and 292 to move to the left, under the influence of spring 291, until the lever 293 strikes the end" of screw 299. Further upward movement of the flange 285 throws the side wall H I to the right, due to the action of the slots 289 and 288 against the now stationary posts 296 and 291. When the flange 265 has moved to the top of its travel, an auxiliary adjustmentof the position of the side wall I II can be obtained by turning the screw 299. The end of this screw, in coaction with the spring 298, will cause the lever 293. to rock about itspivot 295. The lever 292 will follow this movement, due to the scissors connection at 296 and its pivot at 296.

Motive power and cyclic -.control Since the operations to be subsequently described are performed by the main operating -mechanism the motive power and clutch control therefor will now be described.

As best shown in Fig. l, the motive power is derived by a motor I25 which drives a pulley I28 through a belt 21 onthe pulley I26 of the motor. The pulley I23 has attached to it a pinion I29 driving a gear 139 to which a pinion I31 is secured-and which is in mesh with a gear I32 loose on a cam drive shaft I33.

The gear I32 has a sleeve connection-I35 to a ratchet wheel I36 loose on shaft I33, and said ratchet wheel constantly rotates .(see Figs. 11, 1.5 and 17). Pinned to shaft I33 and aside of the ratchet wheel I 36 is a disk I31 which has riveted to it at its outer periphery a bushing I38 which supports a small shaft I39 which has a half round "detent head I46 and a half 'lOllIld clutch'tooth I4I (see Fig. 15) which is in alignment with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I36. The clutch tooth MI is normally out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I36 and to effect the engagement the shaft I39 has an extension to which a spring I43 (Fig. 11) is attached, said spring attempting to engage the clutch tooth I iI with the ratchet wheel I36. However, such engagement is :normally restrained by the armature I44 of a clutch control magnet I45. The end of the armature I45 is so positioned that it normally cooperates with the flat edge of thehalf round detenthead 545 so that when a disengagement is effectedas a result of the .energization of the magnet I45, the clutch engagement will be. made. Before .a complete revolution of shaft I733 the magnet is deenergized and a spring I46 will now rock the armature into a position to engage the half round detent head I4'9an'd thereby disengagethe clutch.

Secured to sha-ft- I33 isa gear 159 (Fig. 11)

8. which meshes with a gear I5I secured .to a sup plementalcam drive shaft I52. For each cyclic operation of the machine, effected by energization of clutch control magnet I45 by any desired and suitable-means, shafts I 33 and I52 are driven to perform operations now to be described.

Sensing fingers At the initial part of a cycle of machine operation between 0-30 (see Fig. 16), sensing fingers "I are moved to the dotted linev position of Fig. 6 by means now to be described.

The three sensing fingers 'I'II are formed "as an integral part of a bail I10 secured to a rock shaft I60. To shaft I66 there is secured an arm 'I6I' having a loose pin and slot connection I62 to a follower pitman I63 operated by a cam I64 (Fig. 6) secured to the cam shaft I52. At the initial rotation of cam I64 the follower pitman will be depressed and shaft I66 rocked clockwise to rock bail I19 similarly to move fingers I-1Iout of cooperation with the sheets in the stack 65. The fingers are kept in such position until 220- of the machine cycle (see Fig; 16)

To cause sensingfingers I1I to act against the paper stack by the desired pressure there is secured to shaft I66 a rod I12 (Fig.2) onwhich is adjustablymounted a weight I13, the desired position of the weight causing-fingers I1I to act with the desired pressure against the papers. The pin and slot connection I62 is loose enough to permit this adjustment.

Means for detentzngcarriage At the initial part of cyclic operation of the machine the carriage which supports the front plate 41 of the magazine is detented.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4 the rack slide 61 meshes with a gear I secured to a shaft I56 supported by the-side frame plates 43 and 46, and: said shaft I56 has fixed thereto a ratchet wheel I51. Coacting with the ratchet wheel I51 is a. holding pawl I58 formed at its forward end as a bail I5'9-(see Fig. 4) loose on the rock shaft I69. The bail I59 has an upstanding finger I14 projecting against a stud I15 carried by the "bail. I16. As stud I15 moves forward its cooperation with the finger I14 allows bail I59 to rock clockwise and permit the free end of pawl I59 to be 'lowered'by the action of gravity, or "a spring, to engage the ratchet wheel I58 to detent the carriage. This condition also remains until 220 of the machine cycle (see Fig. 16).

The sensingfingers I1I' sense the tickets'in the hopper to determine, as will be described, whether the hopper plate 41 should be permitted; to mov rearwardly as the tickets are removed.

If fingers I move to the left suiiiciently, lock pawl I58 will be moved from ratchet I51 to per-- mit. plate 41 to apply pressure to the stack of tickets. Adjustable weight I13 provides power to disengage lock pawl I58. The adjustment is desirable in view of handling papers of different thicknesses and weights, and changes in other conditions.

Means .to relieve pressurcnnstack of sheets ing the rear plate 80 to the rear.

the support rod for the rock ball 88 which supports the back plate 80 by ears 82 (see also Fig. By means of a link connection 220, the lower bail 88 and the upper bail 85 are connected together for simultaneous movement and both move the rear plate 80 rearwardly for the purpose just mentioned. When the cam follower 2I6 rides onto the low part of the cam 2I5 the back plate is moved forward against the pack by a spring 2 I1.

Sheet unthdmufing means The sheet withdrawing means and appurtenant mechanism are carried by a framework I80 (Fig. 1) above the supply magazine. The sheets are withdrawn singly from the stack 55 by a suction tube I8I normally positioned as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The suction pump and its time-controlled valve for producing a suction or vacuum in the suction tube I8I is not shown herein, since it is conventional and may comprise the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 of the patent to C. D. Lake et al, No. 2,348,073. The time that the valve should admit suction to the tube I88 and cut off is shown herein in Fig. 16.

The face of the terminal end of the suction tube I8I is beveled as shown in Fig. 6. With the suction tube in the Fig. 6 position the applied suction will attract the upper portion of the rearmost sheet to separate it from the adjacent sheet and tilts it back at a considerable angle to provide a wide separation from the next sheet. This tilting, which takes place during 60-100" of the machine cycle, causes the upper edge of the withdrawn sheet to pass under and by a fixed retaining plate I82 which also acts to stop the adjacent sheet from following.

The suction tube I8I is slidably mounted in a pair of ears I83 of an arm I84 pivoted on a rock shaft I85 and a pin I88 carried by the tube engages a slot I 81 in a plate I88 which is part of a bail I92 secured to a rock shaft I89. An extension I90 of said bail I82 has a connection to a follower arm IBI operated by a cam I83 secured to drive shaft I33. Through this operating train the suction tube I8I is retracted to the right or rear of the machine between (SO-100 of the cycle and when in such position its arcuate movement commences to rock the suction tube I8I upwardly,

following the dotted line path designated I94 in Fig. 6, known herein as the ticket line.

During the time that the suction tube moves to the right, mechanism previously described comes into play to relieve the pressure on the stack of sheets normally created by the spring 2 I1 (Fig. 2) which, as stated, is effected by mov- This operation is performed during '10-l00 of the cycle and before the arcuate path of the suction tub commences so that the sheet can be freely withdrawn from the stack.

Arcuate movement of suction tube The upward arcuate movement of the suction tube I8I commences at about 100 and terminates at about 260, after which it is returned downwardly, as seen in Fig. 16. This movement is effected by a cam 2 I0 (Fig. 6) acting on a follower by the tube to a position where it is engaged by a conveyer to be presently described. The back plate remains in its rear position until the ticket is fully withdrawn from the stack and is restored to its forward position from 220 to 250.

Before the downward movement commences the control valve of the suction tube I8I opens and the vacuum or suction is destroyed, freeing the ticket from seizure by the tube. However, at this time it is held by the conveyer to be presently described. As the tube I8I approaches its lowest downward position cam I 93 will move the suction tube I8I forwardly to its normal position shown in Fig. 6.

Means to relieve tension on pawl 158 Secured to the drive shaft I33 is an operating cam 200 having an associated follower pitman 20I (Fig. 8) connected at 202 with a pawl carrying plate 203 loose on the shaft I56.

The plate 203 carries a spring-pressed pawl 204 which is in the plane of the ratchet wheel I51. In the normal position of the parts, as in Fig. 2, the pawl 204 is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I51 by an adjustable plate 205. This is adjustable to vary the extent of rotation of the ratchet wheel I51 by the pawl 204, which should be less than one tooth length in all cases. The purpose of the pawl 204 is to impart just enough clockwise movement to the ratchet wheel I51 to free the pawl !58, so that the weight I13 can rock the latter out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, as will now be explained.

Sensing finger operation It was previously described how the sensing fingers I1I were rocked away from the stack of papers at the initial part of the cycle under control of cam I64. Cam I64 is again effective at 220 to rock sensing fingers I'II forwardly towards the stack of papers, this occurring during the time that pawl I58 is freed by the slight clockwise movement of ratchet wheel I51, as will be seen in Fig. 16. The pin I62 (Fig. 2) has enough freedom of movement in the rectangular hole in pitman I63 to allow the sensing fingers I1I to assume a position, under the influence of the weight I13, determined by the thickness of the stack, referred to the position of the front plate 41. At the time of the test, the position of the front plate 41 is determined by the pawl 204 at its forward limit and the particular tooth of the ratchet wheel I51 in which it is engaged. If the sensing fingers I1I rock far enough the pawl I58 will be lifted above the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

From 330 to 360 the pawl 204 is retracted and the front plate 41 moves the stack rearward. The stack rocks the sensing fingers clockwise and the pawl I58 either engages the same tooth of ratchet wheel I51 as before, or, if the stack is sufliciently reduced, the next following tooth.

At the end of the cycle the detent pawl I58 is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel I51 by the force of spring 14 acting through the pack on the sensing fingers I1I. The front plate 41 can be pulled back by means of the handle 55 to insert more sheets and when the handle is released the carriage will be restored by the spring 14 until the detent pawl I58 is rocked into engagement with the ratchet wheel I51 by the action of the pack on the sensing fingers I1I.

The purpose of the arrangement for operating the pawls I58 and 204 and back plate 80 is to provide a. systematic ing .action on the stack 55 during each cycle, [irrespective of the diminishing thickness of the uniform pressure relievstack. If the pawl I58 engages a particular tooth of the ratchet wheel I57 on one cycle, a few cycles later when a few sheets have been withdrawn from the stack the .wheel will rotate one tooth farther before it is engaged by pawl itsmovement to the right will terminate slightly to the right of the position 'where it was stopped on the previous cycle.

Y conveyer The conveyer receives the tickets which-are elevated by the suction tube and moves them successively, in tandem, with each ticket f rst 1 in view of the operator, and then moved in the next cyclic operation of the machine to a printing position. When a ticket is in view of the operator written or printed data. may be read by the operator for setting up such information .on' an adding machine, card punching machine, etc. is

As the ticket approaches its most elevated position the suction tube deposits it under a conveyerbelt 225 which surrounds a pulley 226 secured to shaft I33 and a pulley 227 on another shaft 228 (Fig. 12). The belt 225, as shown in Fig. 11,- is disposed between table portions 229,

v 230, and each ticket is fed by the belt beneath U ataut wire 23!, which holds each ticket against the table, and conveyer belt.

During the last 48 of the rise of the suction tube the elevation of the latter is decreased in speed (see Fig. 16)

-'the latter arrives at a printing position. Since the present invention is concerned mostly with the ticket feed mechanism, it will only be generally described.

7 Printing mechanism Correlated with the conveyer mechanism is a a printing mechanism which prints upon the top of each ticket the serial number and a date which is set up in the machine.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, serial number printing is effected by five printing wheels 235 loosely mounted on a rock shaft 235. These printing wheels have printing type thereon so that the serial number may be printed upon each ticket. For advancing the serial number representing wheels to represent consecutive numbers, the customary bail 231 which carries pawls 238 of different lengths is provided. These pawls cooperate with ratchet teeth 239 carried by each print wheel 235. For each reciprocation of bail 237 the lowest order of printing wheel is advanced to represent the next digit and by means of the pawls 233 of different lengths and cooperating. deep. notches. in the ratchet wheels 23 9,

.transfers may be effected from each lower order print wheel to the next order print wheel in the customary manner. Bail 231 is fixed to the rock shaft 235 which is reciprocated in a manner to be subsequently described.

For printing the month and the day tens and day units of the month there are provided three printing wheels 240 which are settable in the machine. v

In Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 reference numeral 2 represents what is known as an electrical readout device. Such readout device is settable by each of the print wheels 235 and 240 soas to give a representation of the print wheelsettings.

For each order of the readout device a gear 242 is driven by a gear 244 attached to each print wheel and through an-intermediate gear 253. A

.brush 224 carried by said gear 242 cooperates with commutator rods 2'45, theib rush 244 engaging a particular rod 245, depending upon the setting of the print wheel. ,The electrical arrangement just described provides an electrical readout so that the data represented by the print wheels may control a suitable card .punching mechanism.

For taking impressions from the print wheels there is provided the customary inking ribbon 256 which extends across and underneath the seriesof printingwheels 23 5.and 240.. r .A platen hammer. 2.! is provided underneath each of the printing wheels except the printing Fig. 10 and Fig. 11.

wheels 25!) for printing the day tens and day units, for which combination one platen hammer is provided. Each hammer is loosely pivoted on a rod 252 and said hammers are reciprocated to impress the ticket against the ribbon and the printing wheels 235 and 240. Pivoted on the rod 252 is a complete hammer operating unit 253 which has riveted thereto a member 254 having a tail portion 255 cooperating with a cam 256 secured to a drive shaft 251. A spring 258 is connected between a tail 259 of the print hammer 25| and a tail 260 of the hammer operating unit 253. The tail 260 has a pin 26! which operates in a limited movement in a slot 262 of a guide member 263. The profile ofthe cam 255 is such that in a counterclockwise rotation of shaft 251 the complete hammer operating unit 253 and hammers 25l will be rocked in the same direction but the guidemember 263 will limit the movement of the tail 250 so that spring 430 will be tensioned from a stationary shaft 4M and when the tail portion 255 drops off the high part of the cam 25'! the complete hammer operating unit will be urged by spring 400 (Fig. 9) to travel as permitted by guide 253. the hammers 25! continuing to move-and print from the wheels 235. and 240 bypercussive action due to the momentum transmitted from the complete unit 253.

The operation of the hammer 25l, the units advance of the consecutive number wheels, and the shift of the inking ribbon is effected by .an independently operated clutch designated 21!) in This clutch is thesame as the main clutch previously described and shown in Figs. 15 and 17.

Referring to Fig. 11 the constantly rotating gear I29 has a sleeve connection 2'" to a gear 212, meshing with a gear 213 which constantly rotates a ratchet wheel. 214 similar to the ratchet wheel :35. By means of an electro-magnetically controlled clutch 210 the shaft 251 is drivena complete revolution for each operation of the printing mechanism and timed so that the platen -323- shown in a-hubportion plate 328 and a concentric ring 329 having a pairef openings 330 through which each of a hammer 25.! will be reciprocated when the ticket is in printing position.

Referring to Fig. 11, connected to the shaft 25'! is a crank arm 275 which has a link connec- -tion 213 (Fig. l) to an arm 27'! secured to the rock shaft 233, thereby reciprocating the bail 23'! to advance the consecutive number wheels unit. Connected to the link 213 is a link 233 connected to an arm 28! secured to a shaft 232, which shaft is the ribbon operating shaft of the machine. The inking ribbon is provided with .the customary ink reversing mechanism and rocking of shaft 232 actuates this mechanism to advance the inking ribbon an increment for each printing operation.

Stacking mechanism extending shaft 302 (see Fig. 1) which carries at its extremity a beveled pinion 353 meshing with a beveled gear 334 secured to the shaft 228 on which, it will be recalled, the pulley 221 is freely rotatable. The gear ratio between the drive shaft 33 and 228 is such that a complete revolution of the former will effect a half revolution of the. latter shaft 22.5. To shaft 228 there is secured a .gear 305 (see Figs. 1, 12 and 14) which meshes with .a pinion 335 fixed to a shaft 301. Shaft 30'! is carried by a pair of arms 338 attached to a rock shaft 359 and said rock shaft has fixed thereto a follower arm 3!.0 cooperating with a cam 3!! attached to the gear 335. A spring 3 [2 (see Fig. l) urges the follower arm 3! constantly against the profile of the cam 31!.

,At each half revolution of the earn 3!! the follower arm 3!!! under the action of spring 3l2 moves to a lower cam portion 3 [3, thereby allowing shaft 309 to be rocked counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 so that a pair of wheels 3M rotatable with the shaft 351 more downwardly to coact with the respective one of a pair of wheels 3l5 which are freely rotatable on the shaft 225. being mounted thereon by ball bearings 3H5 (see Fig. 1e). During this engagement a ticket has. beenfed by the eonveyer belt 225 between two pairs of cooperating wheels 3M, 3!.5 and at p the contact of such wheels the wheels 314 are being rotated through the pinion 30B and gear 35.5,. The peripheral speed of the wheels 3! is slightly greater than the linear speed of the conveyer belt 225 and the ticket therefore travels slightly faster at this time than it did previously,

so that its leading edge will be urged into cooperation with a sheet gripping mechanism now to be described. Pinned to the shaft 223 is a pairof gripper carrying drums 325 and 326. Since the construction of each is identical the detail description of the construction and operation will be confined to the gripper carrying drum Fig. 13. The drum 326 comprises 32! (see Fig. 14) carrying a side 12 is pivotally mounted on a stud 1332 carried by the side plate 328 and comprises a bail-shaped member having a follower roller 333 cooperating with a fixed cam 334 and also a projecting sheet engaging portion 335. A coil spring 336 wound around the pivot 332 urges the follower roller 333 to cooperate with the cam 334.

In the position shown in Fig. 13 it is evident that the leading edge of the ticket is fed by the two pairs of wheels 3M, 3l5 underneath the portion 335 of the gripper and over the ring 329 and as the gripper carrying drum 326 rotates clockwise the sheet will be fed so that it will be maintained beneath the gripper portion 335. After a slight clockwise rotation of the gripper carrying drum 325 the follower roller 333 will drop off the highest portion of the cam. 334 and by the action of the spring 333 the sheet gripping portion 335 of the gripper 33! will now clamp the sheet against the ring 323. This action is simultaneous with .respect to the two gripper carrying drums and the leading edge of the ticket is .now positively gripped and will be carried off the conveyer belt 225 and turned around with the now rotating gripper carrying drums 325 and 325. Towards the end of the cycle the follower roller 333 of the gripper which has gripped a ticket will cooperate with a rising portion 33'! of the cam 332 which will rock said gripper 33! so as to unclamp it from the ring 329 of the stacker carrying drum. This release enables the positioning of the ticket in .a storage hopper in the manner to be subsequently described.

It will be observed that due to the half revolution given to each of the stacker drums 325 and 323, the pair of grippers carried by each will be alternately operable so that while one gripper is placing a sheet in the storage hopper the other gripper is in a position to receive the following ticket fed by the conveyer belt 225.

Reference was made to the fixed position of the cam 333 and by referring to Fig. 14 it will be seen that the cam 334 is attached to a plate 338 which in turn is secured by fastening means 339 to the side plate 340. There is, of course, one fixed earn 334 for each gripper carrying drum and the manner of assembly is the same for each drum.

Storage hopper As each ticket or sheet is carried around by a gripper drum the edge seized will strike against the terminal edge 353 of a fixed plate 35! which is slotted to allow the grippers 33! to pass through. At this time the grippers are opened, and in successive operations a stack of tickets is built up to rest upon the fixed plate 35!, and against a plate 352 which moves back as the stack is built up, by the following means:

Pivotally carried by a bracket 353 attached t plate 352 and a bracket 354 attached to an integral upstanding portion 355 of the plate 35! are bails 355 and 357. Thus, it is obvious from Fig. 14- that the angular position of balls 356, 35! diminishes as plate 352 moves back.

Also pivoted on a bracket 358 attached to plate 352 and a bracket 353 attached to plate 355 are bails 333 and 35! which are at right angles to the bails 356, 357. Thus, it is obvious from Fig. 13 that the angular position of bails 365, 36! diminishes as plate 352 moves back.

This means of support for plate 352 at right angles enables the positioning of plate 352 in parallel positions, and without requiring a great pair of sheet grippers 33! projects. Each gripper 75 deal of force to do so, as the stack is built up. 

